Lock nut tightening and conduit reaming tool



March 6, 1951 c. H. WATKINS 2,544,058

LOCK NUT TIGHTENING AND CONDUIT REAMING TOOL Filed Jan. 25, 1948 fllllil WHIHIHEHWHJIIIHEI Fig.3. Fig.4. Fig.5. Fig.6

Clement H. Watkins JNVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE LOCK NUT TIGHTENING AND CONDUIT RENG TOOL kins, Vcnango, Pa.

Application January 23, 1948, Serial No. 3,925 12 Claims. (01. 1 14.1)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tools for installing conduits to electrical outlet boxes, and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a tool for both tightening lock nuts on the conduits of electrical outlet boxes and for reaming the open inner ends of conduits that are supported in electrical outlet boxes.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a lock nut tightening and conduit reaming tool that includes novel and improved means for holding and positioning the same relative to the conduits of electrical outlet boxes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lock nut tightening and conduit reaming tool that is so designed as to facilitate the same to be conveniently inserted in an electrical outlet box to engage conduit lock nuts which are so positioned relative to each other as to prevent the normal application of usual tools such as wrenches, sockets, pliers, or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool of the aforementioned character so constructed as to facilitate the use of the same on all types of conventional lock nuts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination lock nut tightener and conduit reamer that is applicable for simultaneously tightening a lock nut on one conduit and reaming the inner end of a further conduit.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tool for installing conduits relative to electrical outlet boxes all parts of which are quickly and readily assembled or disassembled in a convenient manner to facilitate the convenient inspection or replacement of parts.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a combination lock nut tightening tool and conduit reaming tool that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, small and compact in structure, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a conventional electric outlet box including a plurality of conduits and showing the present invention, partly in section and partly in elevation, in use;

Figure 2 is a group perspective view of the present invention in disassembled form;

Figure 3 is a plan View of one conventional type of conduit lock nut for which the present invention is applicable for use with;

Figure 4 is a plan view of another conventional type of conduit lock nut that is applicable for use with the present invention;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a further type of conventional lock nut that is applicable for use with the present tool; and

Figure 6 is a plan view of a still further type of conventional lock nut that is applicable for use with the present tool.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral it represents a preferably cylindrical body having a plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced ribs E2 on its outer periphery for frictionally engaging a suitable tool whereby the body may be conveniently rotated.

Integrally formed with the body Ill, at each end thereof are enlarged, annular sockets it and it that communicate with an axial bore it provided in the body It. Projecting outwardly from the outer edge or extremity 20 of one of the sockets, for example, socket It, is a plurality of circumferentially spaced, diametrically opposed gripping lugs 22, and projecting outwardly from the outer edge or extremity 2d of the remaining socket, namely, socket I6, is a plurality of circumierentially spaced gripping lugs 26.

Rotatably positioned in the bore i8 is a substantially cylindrical stem or support member it having an enlarged cylindrical head portion it that is loosely positioned in one of the sockets, either socket M or it. A portion of the head 36 extends outwardly from the socket in which the same is positioned to facilitate same to engage in an easily visible manner to the operator, one end 32 of a conduit 3G. 7

As illustrated'in Figure 1, the head portion 36 of the support member 28 is positioned in the socket Hi. When in this position, the free end 36 ofthe support member 28 extends into the other socket, namely, socket it, to frictionally engage an annular reamer 38 having a central bore, the ends of which are outwardly flared or rounded as at 39 to facilitate the same to be engaged on the support member 23 in a convenient manner, one end of which is fixed to a frusto-conical bearing member 40 having a knurled outer surface 42. An annular recess 44 is provided in the free end 36, and frictionally engages a split retaining ring 46 that frictionally engagesthe member 4 to retain the reamer 38 on the 'supportmember 28 and outwardly projecting pins 48 carried by the reamer in recesses 50 provided in the body l that communicate with socket Hi.

It should be noted that further recesses 52 are provided in the body Ill which communicate with socket 14, whereby, when the support member is reversed so that the head portion 'is positioned in the socket [6, the pins 46' will engage these latest recesses 52.

The entrance into the bore !8 from each end is enlarged or tapered outwardly, as at 54, to facilitate the convenient insertion of a support member .28 into the bore [8 from either end.

In practical use of the present tool, the same is inserted into a conventional electrical outlet box 56 in which there extends a plurality of conduits 34. having inner locking nuts 58 and outer locking nuts 50, it being noted that the locking nuts of adjacent conduits are relatively close to each other to prevent the, normal engagement of the same by a wrench, socket, pliers or the like.

The socket [4, having preferably four equally spaced lugs 22, is applicable for engaging all four equally spaced notches 62 of a lock nut 64, shown in Figure 3, the equally spaced notches 66 of a further lock nut 68, shown in Figure 4, and alternate notches 10 of a still'further lock nut 12 having eight equally spaced projections 14, and the equally spaced lugs 26, preferably three equally spaced lugs, engage the notches 16 of a lock nut 18 shown in Figure 6 when the socket l4 and lugs carried thereby are not applicable for that particular type of lock nut which is engaged on the conduit. I i

The head portion 38 of the support member 28 will frictionally engage the inner end of one of the conduits to retain and position the socket M or l6 relative thereto and the lugs carried by the socket engage with the inner lock nut 58 that is on the conduit that is to be fixed to the electricaloutlet box. In this position, a further conduit, designated by the numeral 82, and shown best in dotted lines in Figure 1, may be extended inwardlysothat'its inner end 84 isengaged by the knurled surface 42 of the member '40, to cause a reaming of the inner end'84 of this latest 'conduit82 as the body lll'is' rotated and the lock'nut 58 istightened.

Obviously, the socket M or I6 may be used'to tighten lock nuts without the necessity of having to employ the reaming member for simultaneously reaming a further conduit. However, it is'noted that this dual functioning may be accommodated to reduce" the "normal time necessary for both tighteninge lock nuts and reaming conduits that are applied to electrical outlet boxes.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent 'to'those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. A combination lock nut tightener and conduit reamer comprising a body, an elongated member carried by the body and having first and second ends, means at the first end of said "member for engaging and supportin the body relative to a conduit, means carried by the body and embracing the first-mentioned means for 'fri'ctionally engaging a lock nut, and means carried by the second end of said member for reaming a conduit. I

2. 'A combinationlock nut-tightener and conduit reamer comprising a body, an elongated member removably carried by the body for supporting the same relative to a conduit, said member having first and second end portions, a socket carried by said body for embracing a lock nut, the first end'iportion of said'member being received in said socket, means carried by the socket for frictionally engaging a lock nut, and means carried-by the second end portion of said member for reaming .a conduit.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said body includes a roughened gripping area for receiving a tool.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said means carried by the socket for frictionally engaging a lock nut includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, outwardly projecting lugs.

5. A combination lock nut tightener and conduit reamer comprising a body having a socketed end portion, asupport member removably carried by said-body and having one end received in said socketed end portion forengaging a'conduit, lock nut engaging lugs carried :by said socket, means carried by the other end of said support member for reaming a conduit, 'means'ior lockably retaining the conduit reaming "means and support member relative to the-body, and'means for retaining the conduit reaming means'in a fixed position relative to thebody.

6.A combination-lock nuttightener and conduit reamer comprising a sleeve-like body having a socketed end -portion, a support member removablycarried by the'body having an enlarged head portion positio'ned'in the socketed end portion of said -body forengaging a conduit, lugs carried by the -socketed endportion of said body for engaging a lock nut, a reamer carried by-the support member and at the opposite-end thereof from the socketed end portion for reaming a conduit, means for retaining the reamer-and sup port member relative to the body, and means carried-by the reamer for lockably engaging the body. 7

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said means for "retaining the reamer and support member relativetothe body includes a split ring, saidsupport member having an annular recess for yieldingly receiving said split ring.

8. The combination-of-claim 6 wherein said reamer includes a substantially frusto-conical member having a knurled'outer surface.

9. A lock nut tightener for conduits comprising a body'having a'roughened outer surface for engaging a'tooLsa-idbody having first and second end portions; a socket atthe first end of said body for-loosely embracing a lock nut,-means carried by'the'socketforengaging a lock nut, and means carried by'the body for supporting the'same relative toa conduit, said'last mentioned means ininvention, what is eluding an elongated member detachably secured to said body and having an end portion projecting outwardly from the second end portion of said body and adapted to be inserted in a conduit,

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said means carried by the socket for engaging a lock nut includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced gripping lugs.

11. A combination lock nut tightener and conduit reamer comprising a body having first and second end portions and an axial bore, a socket member at the first end portion of said body, a supporting member received in said bore and having first and second end portions, the first end portion of said supporting member being received in said socket member and adapted to be inserted in a conduit, the second end portion of said supporting member projecting outwardly from the second end portion of said body, a reamer mounted on the second end portion of said supporting member, means detachably securing the reamer to the supporting member,

means securing the reamer to the body for rotations, a supporting rod received in said axial bore and having first and second end portions projecting outwardly from the first and second end portions of said body, the first end portion of said rod adapted to be inserted in a conduit to retain said body relative to a conduit, 9, reamer on the second end portion of said rod, means carried by said rod retaining the reamer relative thereto, and means for securing the reamer to the second end portion of the body for rotation of the reamer with the body.

CLEMENT H. WATKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 673,056 Jacobs Apr. 30, 1901 1,038,914 Long Sept. 17, 1912 1,097,096 Heuerman et a1. May 19, 1914 1,270,705 Croad June 25, 1918 1,793,477 German et a1 Feb. 24, 1931 1,992,474 Currier Feb. 26, 1935 2,187,221 Brown Jan. 16, 1940 2,330,242 Romero Sept. 28, 1943 

